thirsty thursday lustre pearl, austin

Rainey Street, the hip and hopping entertainment district just west of the jam-packed interstate that runs through Austin, was nothing more than a short street, overrun by development that towers over, lined with small, rundown houses-- charming faded roses built close to a century ago.  That all changed when Bridget Dunlap came to town.

"BRIDGET DUNLAP, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE QUEEN OF RAINEY STREET, OPENED LUSTRE PEARL IN 2009 SHORTLY AFTER MOVING TO AUSTIN. LUSTRE PEARL WAS THE VERY FIRST BAR ON RAINEY STREET. DUNLAP DID NOT STOP THERE AND SHE HASN'T STOPPED YET."

Now filthy with pub, grub, hipsters, the occasional aging frat boy, rush hour captives, live music, and irony, Rainey Street is one kicking little area. 

And Lustre Pearl was the place that started it all.  

My favorite specialty drink at Lustre Pearl, when not cooling off with a simple Lone Star, is the Asher-Skye- described on the menu, thusly--Hendricks *Ginger Brew* Grapefruit   I'm sure I'll be ordering the iconic 'Long Hair Don't Care', a Lone Star with a shot of whiskey, some evening after a hairy day. (Have you ever spent time in Austin traffic??)  I'm not a heavy drinker, but, are you like me?  Do you think whiskey just sounds legendary?  And makes you think, maybe, that one shot might make you a little legendary yourself?

There are some pretty decent tacos coming from a food truck in the backyard, where you can watch tipsy girls play hula hoop and roll your eyes at your girlfriends.  Or give your husband a firm nudge to the ribs if necessary.  Kind of how many evenings play out in the youthful city of Austin.

I just love the place because the interior transports me to the Big Easy.  If you'd like to check it out for yourself, first visit their website, then consider putting on some snazzy walking shoes, and your lightest of clothes, because you do know that you'll be walking around in what promises to be 90 degree heat, even after sundown, and hit the town.

I love this city.

Welcome to Austin!

From the Lustre Pearl website: 

DAILY DRINK SPECIALS: 

Long Hair Don't Care / Lonestar 16oz. Tallboy with a shot of whiskey

White Bread / Miller Lite and a shot of Jager

Black Eye / Shiner Bock and a shot of Jack Daniels

BOTTLED BEER: 

Austin Beer Works Pearl Snap

Independence Stash IPA

Shiner Ruby Redbird

Lone Star Tallboys

Modelo Especial

Breckenridge Agave Wheat

Victoria

SPECIALTY COCKTAILS: 

Lustre Lemonade- Strawberry-Infused Moonshine

The Back Yard- Bulleit Rye + Grand Marnier + Bitters

Asher Skye- Hendricks *Ginger Brew* Grapefruit 

Dark 'n Rainey- Goslings Black Seal ^ Ginger Brew

El Camino 'Rita- Don Julio Blanco Fresh Lime & Orange 

HAPPY HOURS DAILY 4 TO 7

$0.50 off all beer

$1.00 off all Specialty Cocktails

$2.00 off well drinks

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